Cops have shown illegal off-roaders what they can expect to happen to their pride and joy if they're caught after releasing footage of two bikes getting crushed.

The off-road scrambler-type bike and quad were crumpled into a heap at a scrap yard after their owners were rumbled riding illegally in the Newark and Sherwood area, which includes Ollerton, Walesby, Sherwood Forest, Edwinstowe and Wellow.

The bikes were seized from their owners for having no insurance as part of Operation Jericho - an ongoing multi-agency initiative targeting the illegal use of off-road motorbikes, quad bikes and other nuisance vehicles on private or public land.

It’s just one of a number of initiatives launched as part of force’s drive to tackle the issue which has blighted communities across the county.

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A crane picks up the quad bike at a scrap yard (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)

Sergeant Mike Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Aside from being dangerous, off-road bikes cause misery within communities and is one of the issues that residents have told us causes them the greatest concern.

"For most of the time these vehicles will be used illegally and people may not realise this.

"Bikes can only be ridden on private land with the landowner's permission. This would include waste land which is owned by someone."

"We hope the crushing of these bikes sends out a clear message that once we’ve identified offenders we will utilise all of our powers to take action which could ultimately end up with their bikes being crushed.

"We also need to educate and inform parents, who may be thinking about buying such machines for their children, of the potential dangers and lack of legal opportunities to actually use them."

The quad is loaded into the crushing machinery (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)

He said: "This is not just a police matter, it’s a community issue. We’re all working together to tackle this issue and we will take immediate and severe action against offenders.

"Together with our housing partners, people need to realise that by committing anti-social behaviour they could also face other consequences. This could include action for a breach of their council tenancy agreements, which may result in them losing their home."

He’s invited community groups across Nottinghamshire to bid for a share of £250,000 to help cut crime and keep people at risk of offending on the right path. His Community Safety Fund for 2018/19 will be invested into grassroots projects that help people stay safe and recover from their problems.

The off-road bike is in bits (Image: Nottinghamshire Police)

The deadline for applications has now passed. Funding will be allocated for the financial year 2018-2019.

Mr Tipping said: "We want to address some of the persistent issues which blight the lives of ordinary people. One of those is illegal off-road biking and we are working very closely with the Force to support the enforcement work put in place to tackle this problem."

If you’re riding your off-road vehicle on a road you must have/do the following:

Have a valid MOT certificate if the vehicle is more than three-years-old

Register your quad bike with the DVLA, make sure your vehicle is taxed and has front and rear number plates

Have a full car licence or a category B1 licence if it was issued before January 1997

Have a minimum of third party insurance to drive a quad bike on the road